On August 30, 1926, Miss Tacoma, Dorothy Rothermel, boarded the Oriental Limited at Union Station for Atlantic City. She was Tacoma's first entry in the fledgling Miss America contest. In 1926 the Miss America contest was not limited to one contestant from each state. Miss Rothermel was accompanied by her official chaperone Mrs. Bernice E. Newell. She stopped for three days in Philadelphia as guest of the John B. Stetson Hat Company. On September 7th, she boarded the "American Beauty Special" with the other seventy plus contestants for Atlantic City. Although Miss Rothermel did not win the Miss America crown for 1926, which went to Miss Tulsa, she was awarded third place in the Western division. She also left a lot of people wondering "Where the heck is Tacoma?" Dorothy May Rothermel would marry Gareld Bentley Banta six months after competing in the Miss America pageant. (TNT 8/30/1926, pg. 2; 8/31/26, pg. 1) G44.1-098 (Additional information provided by a reader)

Rothermel, Dorothy; Beauty contestants--Tacoma--1920-1930; Newell, Bernice; Arrivals & departures--Tacoma--1920-1930; Railroads--Tacoma--1920-1930; Railroad stations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Photograph from the August 1926 grand opening of the Whistle Bottling Co.'s new $50,000 plant. The plant could turn out 30,000 bottles of soda a day thanks to modern machinery, such as the one shown in the picture. Filled bottles travelled around the plant on a conveyor belt, into machines which capped the bottles and labelled them. The factory produced beverages for Whistle, Nu-Grape, Hires, Green River and others. It was owned by the Cammarano Brothers. (TDL 8/22/1926, pg. A10-14) (filed with Argentum)

Beverage industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Whistle Bottling Co. (Tacoma); Bottling industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cammarano Bros. (Tacoma);

In August of 1926, Killian Van R. Schermerhorn, standing, and Wilmot McCune spent a week rowing 80 nautical miles from Point Defiance to Olympia and back. The Stadium High School juniors travelled in a double-oared "clinker" that they rented from the park's boathouse. They rowed in sunshine, moonlight and even a storm that landed them on McNeil Island. Once they convinced the guards that they were not part of a prison break, they were treated royally. Throughout the trip, the boys stayed close to shore or rowed from island to island, camping as they tired. (TNT 9/3/1926, pg. 1) BGN-053

In August of 1926 Killian Van R. Schermerhorn, in boat, and Wilmot McCune, on log, spent a week rowing 80 nautical miles from Point Defiance to Olympia and back in a double oared "clinker" they rented from the Park's boathouse. They stayed close to shore or hopped from island to island, camping when they needed rest. They even rowed in a storm, that capsized them on McNeil Island. After convincing the prison guards that they were not trying to "break anyone out," the guards fed, clothed and housed them until the storm was over. (TNT 9/3/1926, pg. 1) TPL-588 , BGN-054

New home for the Whistle Bottling Works, built in 1926 by the Cammarano Brothers. Interior showing machinery and potted plants. The new $50,000 plant was filled with modern equipment. After being "mixed" according to preset formulas, flavored syrups were poured into sterilized bottles on a conveyor belt. They travelled from machine to machine, where they were filled with carbonated water, capped and labelled. The plants and flowers were probably sent by well wishers for the plant's opening. (TDL 8/22/1926, pg. A10-14) (filed with Argentum)

Beverage industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Whistle Bottling Co. (Tacoma); Bottling industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cammarano Bros. (Tacoma);

The second floor laboratory, or "mix" room, in the new $50,000 Whistle Bottling Co. plant. Interior shot showing vats, gallon bottles on shelves. The room had a long testing bench or counter with shelves above it filled with graduates, filters and a large assortment of concentrated syrups. A 100 gallon mixing tank was used for compounding "simple syrup" from boiling water and pure cane sugar. This tank was connected with mixing tanks, where the simple syrup was mixed with the concentrated syrups that gave the beverage its distinctive taste. The mixed syrup flowed down a pipe into the first floor machine room where it went into sterilized bottles that were topped off with carbonated water. (TDL 8/22/1926, pg. A10-14) (filed with Argentum)

Beverage industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Whistle Bottling Co. (Tacoma); Bottling industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cammarano Bros. (Tacoma);

This was how the new Whistle Bottling Company factory, built for the Cammarano Brothers by Mcdonald & Michael contractors and located at 2314-18 A Street, appeared in August of 1926. At that time, the 5 year old company was moving to its new white $50,000 modern concrete plant. The two-story, 75 x 100 foot building was three times larger than the company's previous location at 301 East 25th. The new plant could turn out 30,000 complete bottles of "soda pop" a day: manufactured, bottled, capped and labeled. The company bottled Whistle, Nu-grape, Hires, Green River and others. The Cammarano Brothers, Phil, James, William and Ed, were self-made men; progressing from odd jobs to being the heads of their own factory. (filed with Argentum) (TDL 8/22/1926, pg. A10-14, TDL 7/11/1926, pg. E8)

Beverage industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Whistle Bottling Co. (Tacoma); Bottling industry--Tacoma--1920-1930; Cammarano Bros. (Tacoma);

Shown at the rear of their two-ton White truck with attached 800-gallon tank are Thompson Lubricating Co.'s owners, H.E. Thompson (left) and his father H.A. Thompson, on August 31, 1926. The delivery truck was built 18 months ago for the firm and purchased from the J.F. Hickey Motor Co., the second White owned by the Thompsons. The company used Red Hat Gasoline for its customers and a retouched photograph of this gasoline truck with heavy use of emblems was used for national advertising. In 1926, Thompson Lubricating had four service stations in Tacoma. G35.1-043 (T.Times, 9-4-26, p. 10)

Thompson Lubricating Co. (Tacoma); Fuel trade--Tacoma--1920-1930; Trucks--Tacoma--1920-1930; White trucks; Thompson, H.E.; Thompson, H.A.;

The meat counter at Dan's Market, 85 Pike St., Seattle. Among the items offered are Corned Beef at 10 cents per pound, wieners at 20 cents per lb and sausage. Whole chickens and other meats hang from the ceiling above the counter. (WSHS)

Dan's Market (Seattle); Meat; Butcher shops--Seattle; Grocery stores--Seattle;

Seven usherettes in bat capes and bat ears line up outside the Rialto Theatre where the silent film version of "The Bat," the world's greatest mystery play, was showing in 1926. L-R: Rose Travaglio, Mary Marko, Lillian Hansen, Ann Brower, Irene Carnahan, Helen Morley (chief usherette) and Florence Lloyd. They received many favorable comments on their costumes from patrons of the theater. Based on Mary Roberts Rinehart's 1920 play which ran an impressive 867 performances at the Morosco Theatre on Broadway, "The Bat" was produced and directed by Roland West. It features a mysterious masked master criminal called The Bat whose identity is unveiled only in the last moments of the movie. Cartoonist Bob Kane was so impressed with the film when he saw it as a young boy that his memories of its images formed the basis for his cartoon character Batman. The film opened in Tacoma to rave reviews and could be seen at the matinee for 35 cents or in the evenings for 50 cents, 10 cents for kiddies. (TNT 8-17-26, p. 8) Boland B15500, TPL-2038

Rialto Theatre (Tacoma); Motion picture theaters--Tacoma--1920-1930; Ushers--Tacoma--1920-1930; Motion picture industry--1920-1930; Morley, Helen; Travaglio, Rose; Marko, Mary; Hansen, Lillian; Brower, Ann; Carnahan, Irene; Lloyd, Florence;

Parked outside the Colonial Hotel, 701-05 Commerce St., on August 31, 1926, were a Tacoma motorcycle policeman and a very small open top automobile with its driver squeezed in. Several Tacoma police officers were included in the photograph. The minute car was being used to advertise the impending arrival of the silent film, "The Wise Guy," starring Mary Astor and James Kirkwood. The name of the film was prominently displayed on the hood of the automobile. G42.1-014; TPL-3553.

Tacoma Police Department (Tacoma); Police--Tacoma--1920-1930; Motorcycles--Tacoma--1920-1930; Signs (Notices); Colonial Hotel (Tacoma); Automobiles--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Close-up of burnt timber at the Mineral Lake Logging Co.'s Camp 17. Photographer Boland ventured out to the remote logging camp located in north central Lewis County on September 3, 1926, to document the damage that fire had caused to timberlands. Burned sections of cut timber are piled haphazardly on the ground, obscuring many tree stumps.

Mineral Lake Logging Co. Camp 17; Fires; Tree stumps; Logs; Lumber industry--Washington--1920-1930;

This burned railroad bridge was located near Mineral Lake Logging Co.'s Camp 17 in 1926. The area had suffered fire damage which included part of this railroad bridge constructed out of logs. The bridge curved around a gulch.

Mineral Lake Logging Co. Camp 17; Logging industry--Washington--1920-1930; Fires; Logs; Railroad bridges--Washington--1920-1930;

This is a view of the devastation caused by fire racing through timbered lands near the Mineral Lake Logging Co. Camp 17 in Lewis County in late summer of 1926. Trees are tossed about like matchsticks and the railroad bridge pictured above may also have been damaged by flames.

Mineral Lake Logging Co. Camp 17; Fires; Lumber industry--Washington--1920-1930;

George H. Jensen, owner of the Tacoma Silver Fox Farm, was photographed in September of 1926 holding a fox. The fox breeding farm, located south of Tacoma, was one of the leaders in the nation in the propagation of fur foxes. In January of 1927, they shipped out 82 foxes to a new farm, Sunflower Fox Farm in Topeka, KS. This was the largest order for foxes ever undertaken in the west and one of the largest ever placed in the history of fox breeding. The foxes netted $39,500, with prices ranging as high as $1,000 for a single fox. TPL-7081 (TNT 1/101927, pg. 9)

Tacoma Silver Fox Farm (Tacoma); Foxes--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fur trade--Tacoma--1920-1930; Jensen, George H.;

This is part of the damage resulting from a fire near the Mineral Lake Logging Co. Camp 17 in 1926. It looks like there was a significant loss of timber, including the blackened logs above. Not shown is a company railroad bridge made of logs which was partially destroyed in the fire.

Mineral Lake Logging Co. Camp 17; Lumber industry--Washington--1920-1930; Logs; Fires;

Fire damage at Mineral Lake Logging Co. Camp 17 as viewed on September 3, 1926. In the right foreground are scorched tree stumps. G75.1-086 (photograph is marked B15570; however, correct image # should be B15569, per photographer Boland's notes.)

Mineral Lake Logging Co. Camp 17; Fires; Tree stumps; Logs; Lumber industry--Washington--1920-1930;

Photograph taken for Mineral Lake Logging Co. of clear-cut hill with railroad bridge across gulch made from two large, straight trees. The Mineral Lake Logging Co. was in Ashford, WA. TPL-7082

Cutover lands--Washington--1920-1930; Lumber industry--Washington--1920-1930; Railroad bridges--Washington--1920-1930; Mineral Lake Logging Co. (Ashford);

Copy of a photograph of the main meeting hall inside Knights of Pythian Temple, 924-26 Broadway, Tacoma. The photograph was pinned crooked on a board and then photographed. The hall is officially known as the Castle Hall of the Commencement Lodge #7. It was built in 1906-07 and has been carefully preserved. The structure is on the city and national historical directories. It has mahogany walls and murals depicting the friendship of Damon and Pythias, on whom the beliefs of the order are placed. TPL-7083, BU-12219

Pythian Temple (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Knights of Pythias, Commencement Lodge #7 (Tacoma);

International Rally of I.O.O.F. (Independent Order of Odd Fellows), Tacoma, Washington, September 4-6, 1926.The biggest event was a parade through downtown Tacoma with over 2,000 participants on September 4, 1926. The South Tacoma Lodge No. 89 float is bearing signs, "The God of Nations is the Father of All Men" and "All Men Are Brothers". Lefebvre Auto Laundry in background. (filed with Argentum)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Clubs--Tacoma; Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 89 (Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1920-1930; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) held their seventh annual International Rally in Tacoma on September 4-6, 1926. The largest event of the rally was a parade with over 2,000 participants through the downtown business district that concluded at the Odd Fellows temple at Sixth & Fawcett. The Fern Hill Rebekah Lodge created a float for the parade on the back of a John Dower Lumber Company flatbed truck. The float was photographed in front of the Gansen Electric Company and C.A. Beil, General Contractors, offices at 709-13 Commerce St. The Rebekahs were the affiliated fraternal order of the Odd Fellows as well as a service organization. (TDL 9/4/26, pg. 3-article; 9/5/26, pg. 4-A-article) (filed in Argentum.)

Independent Order of Odd Fellows (Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1920-1930; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fern Hill Rebekah Lodge (Tacoma);

International Rally of I.O.O.F. (Independent Order of Odd Fellows), Tacoma, Washington, September 4-6, 1926. Representatives from 300 lodges in Washington and British Columbia gathered in Tacoma for the 7th annual gathering of encampments. The kick off was a parade on Sept. 4, 1926 with over 2,000 participants. The parade formed at 7th & Commerce. Pictured is a parade float with a banner reading "Both Old And Young Are Protected By The I.O.O.F. Home in Walla Walla, WA." in front of the Colonial Hotel at South 7th and Commerce. The Washington Odd Fellow home was established in 1897 in Walla Walla. It provided care for the widows and orphans of members of the fraternal organization. (TDL 9/4/1926, pg. 3; 9/5/26, pg. 4-A) (filed under Argentum)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Clubs--Tacoma; Independent Order of Odd Fellows (Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1920-1930; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Sherman Clay piano. This beautiful piano was placed next to a large view window in a home believed to have been owned by the Scott family on Gravelly Lake Drive in 1926. The stately living room, built with an open-beam ceiling, had a marble or stone fireplace and ornate furniture. Photograph ordered by the Sherman, Clay & Co. G40.1-014

Pianos; Fireplaces;

View of frame Tudor-style residence by Silas E. Nelsen, Architect. (filed with Argentum)

Houses--Tacoma--1920-1930; Silas E. Nelsen Architects (Tacoma);

On September 11, 1926, Allen Motor Co. salesmen paid special attention to a new Hudson coach parked outside their new quarters built on the site of the old Annie Wright Seminary. Allen Motors were Hudson-Essex distributors. From L-R: Blaine Ramey, Andy Mulligan, Carl Jensen, George Ford and seated behind the wheel, Allen Motor Co.'s cashier/bookkeeper, Agnes Schober. The men were inspecting the new and improved intake manifold and carburetor, some of the features of the new Hudson four-door. G32.1-075 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 9-19-26, 6G)

Allen Motor Co. (Tacoma); Automobile dealerships--Tacoma--1920-1930; Hudson automobile; Ramey, Blaine; Mulligan, Andrew E.; Jensen, Carl; Ford, George; Schober, Agnes;

Located in 1926 near the south side of Tacoma's showcase, the original Tacoma Hotel, the Tacoma Totem Pole was one of the city's landmarks. The 103-foot totem pole was carved by Alaskan carvers in the Haida tribal style and presented to the city in 1903. Then at South 10th & A St., it was relocated to the Fireman's park area at South 9th & A St. G65.1-153

Tacoma Totem Pole (Tacoma); Totem poles--Tacoma; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma);

Ornate living room believed to be part of the George & Minnie Dickson residence, 501 Tacoma Avenue North, in September of 1926. Focus is on the beautiful Steinway Duo Art Reproducing Player Piano and bench in the center of the photograph. Room is brightly lighted with a fringed lamp and overhead lights. Hardwood flooring is partially covered by area rugs. Photograph ordered by Sherman, Clay & Co. G40.1-003 (Identification of piano provided by a reader)

Pianos; Lamps; Rugs; Living rooms--Tacoma--1920-1930;

For Western Iron & Wire Works. Entrance gate at the William Jones estate in Lakewood. House designed by architect Kirtland Cutter in 1920. (WSHS)

Entrance gate at Home of Peace Cemetery, a Jewish cemetery located at 5421 Steilacoom Blvd. SW. The cemetary began in 1890 when the First Hebrew Benevolent Society was formed and the land for the cemetary was purchased. Photograph ordered by Western Iron & Wire Works. (WSHS)

Home of Peace Cemetary (Lakewood); Cemeteries--Lakewood;